Best Recumbent Exercise Bike with Moving Arms in 2022


Most people assume that just because you’re on a stationary bike, you won’t be required to use your upper body and can only engage your legs. But a good quality stationary bike is one that will actually challenge your whole body, including your arms and legs. That’s why we’re so passionate about helping you to find the best recumbent exercise bike with moving arms out there.

That’s because this type of bike will let you enjoy a more comprehensive workout that engages your entire body. It’s important to note that these bikes are usually quite expensive, making them a formidable investment.

Best Recumbent Exercise Bike with Arm Workout

Out of all the bikes in the world, finding the best recumbent exercise bike with moving arms is no walk in the park.

To help make the process easier for you, we’ve put together the following list of options for your convenience.

1. Sunny Health & Fitness Magnetic Recumbent Exercise Bike

The Sunny Health & Fitness Magnetic Recumbent Bike with arms that move is a great recumbent exercise bike with arm movement. That’s because it’s actually a cross-training bike that allows you exercise your entire body in one fell swoop. One of the first things that you notice with this bike is that it looks very different from your average indoor or recumbent bike.

First of all, it has a weight carrying capacity of up to 350 pounds, a multi-control resistance system, and 8 different resistance levels to choose from.

Attention to detail is the name of the game here with a built-in pulse sensor which helps to keep you safe and the pedals are easy to use even for beginners. They’re wide and large enough to allow for on-the-fly adjustments even while you’re pedaling.

Also, note the oversized seat and backrest which allow you to keep your spine at a comfortable upright position as you work out.

Pros
  • This bike has an impressive weight carrying capacity of up to 350 pounds
  • It’s quite affordable and it’s worth it
  • Comes with an accessible multi-control magnetic resistance knob
  • The padded seats are comfy and massive enough to take people of different weights and heights
  • It comes with 8 different tension levels
Cons
  • This bike isn’t suitable for super tall people

2. Stamina Elite Total Body Recumbent Bike with Movable Arms

The thing about recumbent bikes with upper body workout is that most of the best ones have a little bit of the traditional motorcycle feel to them. Likewise, the Stamina Elite comes with magnetic resistance that is adjustable up to 8 levels using the included and easy-to-use dial.

Its flexibility doesn’t end there, as it also sports an adjustable upper handle to make sure that you’ll hardly feel the resistance on your shoulders, arms, and back when exercising. Both the seat and backrest are padded to help keep you comfortable when exercising for long periods of time.

Speaking of which, the seat is also adjustable to suit users of different heights, and we utterly enjoyed using the balanced foot pedal which also happens to be adjustable. You can increase and decrease the seat using the convenient sliders which provide you with a natural feel when riding the bike.

This bike also comes with a heart rate monitor feature to help you maintain an optimal position. Overall, this is one of the best recumbent bikes with arms.

Pros
  • The resistance dial is conveniently easy to operate
  • You can adjust the seat both vertically and horizontally
  • Comes with built-in pulse sensors
  • There are eight levels of magnetic resistance to switch between
  • This is one of the most stylish bikes that we’ve seen
Cons
  • It’s on the more expensive side of the price spectrum
  • There’s no independent arm pedal resistance

3. HCI Fitness PhysioCycle XT Recumbent Stationary Bike with Arm Movement

The HCI Fitness PhysioCycle XT Recumbent Bike comes with a lot of great features for anyone that wants to enjoy a safe and comfortable workout at home. Especially if you want to turn your arms from flab to fab and toned!

What makes this the best recumbent exercise bike with moving arms is the fact that it allows you to exercise both the upper and lower body areas with ease. It comes with 8 different resistance levels as to be expected, and you can choose from 7 different workout programs which are pre-set for your convenience. There’s also a hands-free mode for the more advanced.

The seat is fitted with a heartbeat sensor which makes it easier for you to sit comfortably as you pedal for your life and improve your fitness day by day. We found this bike to be particularly helpful at exercising and toning the arms and legs alike and we loved the anti-clock mode which allows you to switch from clockwise to anticlockwise movements as you wish.

All of this comes at a price because this bike weighs 146 pounds which allows it to carry all of these features and functions. But, it is surprisingly compact in actual size and measures 37 x 24 x 58 inches.

Pros
  • The transportable wheels come with adjustable pedals
  • Allows you to pedal and cycle smoothly and comfortably
  • It enables you to monitor your heart rate easily
  • Easy to get on and off it
  • The display is super easy to read
Cons
  • It has quite a stiff seat

4. Sunny Health & Fitness Recumbent Bike SF-RB4631

As the name implies, this bike is all about leisure, health, and fitness. But don’t let its “sunny” name fool you; this bike means business. It comes with all the features you’d need from a recumbent exercise bike with arm workout.

This includes a flexible frame which is characterized by an adjustable magnetic tension and an inseam that can be adjusted from 27 to 34 inches. You can also adjust the seat to suit your unique weight and height so that you can enjoy your exercise.

We love how flexible this bike is because it allows you to move your arms effortlessly and the magnetic resistance feature also enables you to control how intense your workout can be. You can increase or reduce the intensity based on your fitness level and how much you want to challenge yourself.

To ensure further comfort and safety, this magnetic bike sports adjustable handlebars and handles and a humongous seat which is nicely cushioned to keep you nice and comfy. This is in addition to the sensor which monitors your heart pulse in order to ensure that you’re able to challenge yourself safely.

Pros
  • This is a great recumbent bike for anyone who wants to exercise the upper body
  • It comes with a separate arm pedal resistance
  • Features built-in wheels for comfortable and safe wheel movement at the base of the bike
  • Comes with a built-in pulse monitor in the arm grips
  • You can switch between 8 different magnetic resistance levels thanks to the convenient resistance knob
Cons
  • You can’t adjust the seat horizontally

5. Velocity Exercise Recumbent Bike with Arm Motion

Here we have an incredibly durable bike that’s made to last. It’s designed with a duo of stabilizers to prevent it from wobbling out of place as you exercise, as well as an adjustable back stabilizer that allows you to maintain an upright posture while going through rugged and rough surfaces.

There are custom transport wheels on the front stabilizer which are designed to make it easier for you to transport this bike. It also comes with a horizontally and vertically adjustable seat. However, if you’re 5’4” short then you’ll want to avoid the bike’s horizontal adjustment.

Otherwise, it comes with a padded cushion to keep you super comfortable as well. Like other recumbent bikes for short person, it has a magnetic resistance mechanism. You’ll also find that the LCD console is super easy and simple to use with its one-button mechanism.

The console will show you your heart rate, the amount of time spent on the bike, calories burnt, and distance. Note that the console is powered by 2 AA batteries.

Pros
  • Comes with an LCD console that shows you your stats in real-time
  • Measures 51 H x 25 W x 50 D inches
  • 8 levels of tension control
  • It comes with a 5kg flywheel
Cons
  • Electronics can be hard to understand

6. Teeter FreeStep Recumbent Cross Trainer and Elliptical

The Teeter FreeStep Recumbent Cross Trainer comes highly recommended for anyone that wants to improve their cardio game and get in more exercise in general. This type of bike is perfect for low-impact workouts specifically which means that you get the best results with very little effort.

One of our favorite features of this bike is the fact that it’s compatible with people of different heights, weights, and riding styles.

It’s constructed from patented stride technology which is designed to keep your joints, knees, and back in a comfortable posture. This is also what makes this bike the perfect one for people struggling with injuries and senior citizens as well.

It’s a great way to get back into the swing of things and start strengthening your arms and shoulders while burning fat more effectively. You can even adjust the pedals and handles in order to tone all different parts of your body effectively. Simply put, this is the best recumbent bike with an upper body workout.

Pros
  • Comes with an adjustable seat to keep you nice and comfortable
  • Perfect for exercise the entire body
  • It’s compact and portable
  • Features a device stand and water bottle holder
Cons
  • It doesn’t come with pulse sensors

7. Stamina Recumbent Exercise Bike with Upper Body Exerciser

So, in our quest for the best recumbent exercise bike with moving arms, we came across yet another model from Stamina, this time their signature Recumbent Exercise Bike. This is a great recumbent bike with arm exerciser that you can use either at your home gym or office gym.

This particular model sports a design that’s both comfortable and chic, complete with multiple grips and a padded handle to ensure that you won’t sprain your wrists or hands while pedaling. Then there’s the cardio-friendly upper and lower body resistant system which has been shown to improve metabolism by allowing you to get the most out of your cardio.

Like most of the other bikes on this list, this one comes with 8 different resistance levels for upper and lower body, and the ergonomically designed side pedals and rails are designed to help you keep a safe environment around you. Speaking of the pedal, it features a unique textured feel to prevent your feet from slipping on when it gets wet. Both the backrest and seat are super soft to help keep you comfortable as well.

Other features worth noting on this great recumbent bike with arm pedals include built-in wheels that move smoothly as you pedal, a compact design that doesn’t take up a lot of space, and it’s foldable as well so you can store it away when it’s not in use! You can also adjust the weighted pedal, backrest, and seat to suit your height preferences and needs, and they’re padded as well so that’s extra comfort for you there!

Pros
  • Comfy padded seat and backrest
  • It folds up easily to save space
  • It’s got a nice and compact design
  • Multiple grips and handles are also padded
Cons
  • It’s quite noisy

How to Find the Best Recumbent Exercise Bike with Moving Arms

As you can see, recumbent bikes are available in a variety of shapes and sizes. That’s why it’s important to understand your needs and the features on offer in order to find the perfect one.

Read on to find out what features you should look out for in the best recumbent exercise bike with moving arms.

Flywheel

Flywheels are an important feature to consider if you’re looking for a recumbent exercise bike. They come in different sizes and the most popular options are those with magnetic resistance.

You’ll know that your bike has a good flywheel and resistance combination if it works noiselessly, while bad ones are usually noisy and can knock you out of balance.

Ideally, you want a bike that’s able to generate enough inertia to challenge you while operating silently.

Comfort

As with any other type of bike, it’s important to ensure that your recumbent exercise bike is nice and comfortable.

Some of the most notable features to look out for in this regard include the ability to recline the seat.

It should also be ergonomic and padded, as well as the backrest. Both the backrest and seat can be adjustable which adds to its comfort as well.

Size

A lot of people don’t take into account the size of the bike and whether or not they should opt for a compact or full-sized model, even though this should be one of the most important things to look out for.

By and large, most recumbent bikes are large in size because they’re supposed to be elongated to help you maintain a comfortable position.

With that said, there are smaller and more compact models available which are easier to store and don’t take up a lot of space.

Folding recumbent bikes fall under this category and they’re an all-in-one fitness machine to suit various needs.

Benefits of Recumbent Exercise Bikes with Moving Arms

A recumbent exercise bike with arms typically comes with the following benefits:

It’s Versatile

Because recumbent bikes come with arm pedals, this means that you have to use both your upper and lower body against the resistance while working out. It helps you engage multiple muscles at once.

Offers Support for the Spine

Recumbent bikes are unique in the fact that they offer superior spinal support and come with an adjustable chair that’s flexible enough to keep you comfy, even if you have an injury or are elderly and no longer have your full faculties.

Helps with Low-Intensity Workouts

A recumbent bike with moving handles is designed to help you maintain a certain seating position that enables you to burn calories slowly while utilizing fewer muscles. Again, this is what makes recumbent exercise bikes ideal for anyone dealing with injuries.

Conclusion

That’s our two cents on the best recumbent exercise bike with moving arms. If we were to pick one option it would be the Sunny Health & Fitness Magnetic Recumbent Exercise Bike.

This bike will challenge your whole body thanks to the separate arm pedal resistance, as well as built-in wheels to help keep you nice and comfortable.

The pulse monitor on the arm grips is in-built and works really well with the ergonomic step-thru design and adjustable seats to make for a super comfortable and challenging ride.

Shailen Vandeyar

A proud Indian origin Kiwi who loves to plant trees and play with my pet bunny when not out doing about every kind of biking and experiencing the occasional tumble. Ready to share the ride with you.

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